proust questionnaire

Daniel Radcliffe’s Idea of Perfect Happiness is Pancakes for Dinner

At age 11 he first cast his spell on the world as Harry Potter. He and his boy wizard may be all grown up, but the star of this spring’s Broadway premiere of The Cripple of Inishmaan admits he still likes pancakes for dinner.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Eating breakfast foods at a time of the day other than breakfast. Pancakes for dinner—I’m happy.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? My ability to invariably say exactly the wrong thing in any given situation.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Arrogance.

What is your favorite journey? From the airport to home.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Of the seven? Chastity.

On what occasion do you lie? Press junkets, backstage at plays (if required), and on questionnaires, obviously.

What do you dislike most about your appearance? My smile. It’s crooked.

Which living person do you most despise? Someone you don’t know.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “You know.” I catch myself saying it about five times per sentence when I’m nervous, and it’s annoying.

What is your greatest regret? I’m 24! I think it’s a little early for all that.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? So far it’s been working in the film industry.

When and where were you happiest? It’s hard to pick one time. I feel like I’m quite a happy person. My ninth birthday was epic, though.

Which talent would you most like to have? I wish I could draw. I think it’s possible to become good at most things just by practicing a lot. But no amount of time and effort will make me good at drawing.

What is your current state of mind? Slightly taken aback by how deep this questionnaire wants to get.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would talk slower. When I hear myself interviewed sometimes it sounds like I’m running an auction.

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? Nothing. I’m lucky.

What is your most treasured possession? My treasure chest.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Something terrible happening to someone I love and being powerless to help.

Where would you like to live? London and New York.

What is your most marked characteristic? I’m quite energetic.

What is the quality you most like in a man? Intelligence.

What is the quality you most like in a woman? Intelligence.

What do you most value in your friends? I like all my friends for different reasons, so it’s hard to pick one quality I value most highly overall.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? The Master in The Master and Margarita.

Who are your heroes in real life? My parents. Tom Brady. Tom Lehrer.

What are your favorite names? Linus. Hannah. Joseph. Iggy.

What is it that you most dislike? People who are convinced that being rude and being straight-talking are the same thing. People who think that working in the entertainment industry means they can behave like entitled sociopaths. And small portions of food.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? I have no idea. If I could come back as a person rather than a thing, I’d definitely prefer that.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? I would like to come back as a question setter on Jeopardy!

How would you like to die? In a blaze of glory. What is your motto? “Don’t be a dick.”